Joni and Ken: An Untold Love Story Paperback – October 27, 2015

Very uplifting. Anyone suffering with pain or disability this book is a must read. Amazing what s young girl paralyzed in a diving accident and later cancer has accomplished. Bought several to share as gifts

I was warned that this book, written by a ghost writer, would be impersonal. So I was surprised that I found it so incredibly moving. All writers these days, but especially ghost writers, include in a story all of the things that in this day and age are considered important or politically correct. If people have traveled, we must be told about their trips in detail even if we'd rather hear about their everyday lives at home. I'll admit that I was so anxious to get to the meat of this story--Joni's medical issues and Ken's caregiver frustrations and their spiritual lives and love lives, that I skipped a whole chapter about a trip to Romania. I will go back to read it. I was richly rewarded by some of the chapters and I cried profusely. To see them both so greatly challenged by Joni's medical conditions--paralysis, hip pain, breast cancer, a fracture, and pneumonia--was heartrending for me and very inspiring when Joni reaches out to the Lord and he surprises her (I won't give this away).Their marriage was a typical marriage in many ways. There were years when they grew apart and focused on work and interests that didn't include one another. Ken has a spiritual awakening and then after retirement from his teaching and coaching jobs, he is able to be 100% there for the marriage and Joni's various medical conditions start to keep her close to hearth and home. Their spiritual lives intensify. They start to pray together and read the Bible together, rather than separately as before.I love a book that really moves me and makes me cry (and not just a tear or two!). This book was chicken soup for my soul! I read Joni's earlier books. I'd been wondering how everything was going with her and Ken. This story is just so beautiful. It doesn't gloss over the hard times. We get to read about some of their arguments. It's reassuring to know that they are "normal" as well as being faith-centered people. Love you, Joni and Ken!

A remarkable, true story of an amazing couple who fell in love, married and found the strength, courage and patience to persevere amidst catastrophic disability and illnesses that arose from being a quadriplegic. Ken knew, to an extent, what he was taking on when he decided to marry Joni prior to taking their vows. Amidst negative feelings from personal friends and family as to how crippling and difficult this would do to him emotionally, physically and spiritually, Ken knew in his heart that love conquers all and he would take on the challenge as he truly loved Joni. Despite it all, he did so knowing how this would affect his everyday life and future. It was a difficult transition although they did have help from friends and family. It is a love story of the trials and tribulations, spiritual strength, help from friends and family members and their belief in God that lead them to overcome each crisis, illness and the constant help that Joni required. Joni struggled emotionally as to how these challenges affected Ken in every way possible and she tried to be as helpful as she could be through her patience, understanding, her verbal support to him and unconditional love. Year after year they were able to hold onto their beliefs, embrace God, read scriptures, listen to prayers and discover true love that they had for each other. It is an amazing tribute to their strength and resolve to have a meaningful, loving marriage despite the odds they had to overcome by having a devastating disability.

This is a really beautiful and heartwarming story of a couple who have gone through much difficulty and through leaning on Jesus, have grown as people and in their love for one another. Ken's evolution into a more involved, loving, and sacrificial partner is particularly redemptive and instructive. However, I felt the book focused a lot more on him and his inner life and growth as a man than it did on Joni's; I left the book feeling that I'd gotten to know him more than her. Maybe that's just personal perception, but he felt more "real", whereas I felt I got to know more about Joni's physical condition than who she is as a person and a wife. I confess to wondering if a bit of the desire to preserve her as a role model prevented more in-depth exploration, or if she really just is that saintly.I'm giving the book four stars because the author's writing style is, I felt, a bit flowery, effusive, repetitive, and embellished. I felt the author often had the urge to explain and interpret things, rather than allowing action and events to tell the story. I prefer a more straightforward writing style, and often, his prose feels like trying to peer through translucent lace curtains at a scene. Another issue was, and this is probably due to privacy concerns on the part of the authors, while the questions of Ken and Joni's sex life and whether they will be able to have children are raised, they are never answered. I understand the reluctance, but face it, this is what most people reading a book about a love story of a paraplegic will be wondering. I think that's normal curiosity, and it felt odd to hint at them while never answering them. I think it could have been done in a sensitive and non-graphic way, and it was disappointing it wasn't attempted. I don't think that's prurient interest, just a normal part of telling a story like this.All that said, this is a beautiful love story of two ordinary people dealing with extraordinary circumstances, leaning on Jesus, and being transformed through it. Well worth the read, especially for the story of Ken, who comes across as the quiet but shining star of the story. Very heartwarming.

This telling of Joni and Ken's lives is wonderfully woven. At first I was confused how sections jumped back and forth, until I learned to focus on the titled date and year heading, instead of skipping ahead to the writing. I came to love how it was Not written chronologically. This book is powerful and heartwarming, and I can clearly hear Joni's voice in it from watching YouTube videos. I love that both Joni and Ken both tell of their thoughts and feelings.I look forward to reading more of their books. This book has brought me closer to Jesus, as has daily reading/listening to The Bible in One Year with Nicky & Pippa Gumbel.Thank you for this awesome book!

Uma história real, com ensinos preciosos para a vida. Casais e pessoas que querem entender como buscar força em Deus e viver uma vida abundante, ainda que em meio às dificuldades, podem encontrar muitas experiências nesse livro.

Sehr ermutigend, aus dem wahren Leben...

It took me a long time to buy this book, I wasn't sure if I wanted to impose on their personal life. The book is well written. The first chapters had me in tears then it changed thankfully to reveal hidden truths and deepening love. I felt it very brave of both Joni and Ken to be so truthful. It was a lovely story all the more for being real not fiction. Many of us go through this in our marriages and it's thrilling to know God never takes His hand of us at any time. I love the fact they always give all the Glory to God. God has brought them through everything.Wonderful book, I have now bought it on kindle.Highly recommend.

Joni's story is known to many, but in this book we see the deeper golden threads of Joni and Ken, two lives intertwined and strengthened by a third invisible cord. This is one of the most uplifting books I have ever read. It is a sensitively written, honest account of their love story across decades of challenges. One is left admiring their characterful faithfulness to grapple with every difficulty, and inspired to trust that God is able to do exceedingly more than we could ever ask or think.